Peamenüü

The Riigikogu is the parliament of Estonia. Its 101 members are elected at general elections for a term of four years. The Riigikogu passes laws and resolutions, exercises parliamentary supervision and ratifies international agreements.

The Riigikogu has 11 standing committees and 3 select committees. Committees of investigation and study committees are formed to investigate issues of public interest or problems of significant imprtance.

June 1

02.06.2005 / Sitting reviews

The Riigikogu did not pass unamended the Local Government Council Election ActAmendment Act, refused to be proclaimed by the President of the Republic, the main purpose of which is to regulate electronic voting. The result of voting: 45 votes in favour, 41 against. 51 votes would have been needed for the passage of the Act. The Act will be amended and the term for submission of motions to amend is 15 June, 6 p.m.

The Riigikogu passed two Acts:

The Riigikogu passed with 69 votes in favour the Defence Forces Service Act andAssociated Acts Amendment Act (628 SE), which makes amendments to the Defence Forces Service Act, National Defence Expropriations Act, Population Register Act, Consular Act and Public Service Act. The need to amend the above Acts arose from the planned changes in the call-up of persons eligible to be drafted into compulsory military service or alternative service and the organisation of registering persons liable to service in the Defence Forces, as well as the re-organisation of the national defence departments of state agencies, which are in the area of government of the Ministry of Defence, into the Defence Resources Board.

The Riigikogu passed with 70 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to § 60 of theGovernment of the Republic Act (627 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, which amends the area of government of the Ministry of Defence, stipulated in subsection 60 (2), with a state agency the Defence Resources Board.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of two Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to Public Water Supply and Sewerage Act and Water Act (615 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Structural Support Act (630 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of five Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Parental Benefits Act (650 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, Estonian Reform Party Faction and Estonian People’s Union Faction;

The Bill on Amendments to the Immovables Expropriation Act, Code of Enforcement Procedure, Roads Act and Railways Act (647 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Railways Act and State Fees Act (648 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Approval of the Estonian National Strategy for Sustainable Development ?Sustainable Estonia 21?( 619 OE), submitted by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on the Denunciation of the Convention on Future Multilateral Co-operation in North-East Atlantic Fisheries (649 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

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At Question Time Prime Minister Andrus Ansip answered the questions about the future budgets, taxation policy and the financing of health care. Minister of Education and Research Mailis Reps answered the questions about the teachers? salaries and the capitation fee system. Minister of Defence Jaak Jõerüüt answered the questions about the mission in Iraq and national defence expenditures.

The questions asked at the Question Time and the answers to them as well as the verbatim record of the Riigikogu sitting are available (in Estonian) on the Internet at: